Pavement, Auckland NZ, 2023

Pavement

7th March 2023
The Civic, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Fleming. Photography by Doug Peters.

Anniversary tours are once again becoming the rage, Smashing Pumpkins are currently on one, but unsurprisingly are skipping New Zealand, with Pulp (fingers crossed that makes it to our shores) recently announcing a reunion tour with official dates.

So, imagine the quivering joy of any fan when Pavement declared that they would be back on the road and making their way down to little old Aotearoa.

With an almost cult like following, Californian indie rockers Pavement formed in 1989, and soon joined the ranks of bands that had to be on constant rotation if you were a true music lover. Easily one of the formative rock bands of the 90’s along with such artists as Sonic Youth, Pixies and Dinosaur Jr, Pavement had a sound that was quite distinctively their own.

To begin the evening of musical delights however, local act Half Hexagon delivered a mind-blowing set that left those in attendance clamouring for more.

Comprising of local Tāmaki Makaurau legends Yolanda Fagan (Na Noise, Echo Ohs), Julien Dyne (Ladi6, Avantdale Bowling Club) and James Milne (Lawrence Arabia), the three piece made a quiet entrance onto the stage, taking up their respective stations with minimal fuss. However, as the opening notes of ‘Ramona’ seeped out, cloaked in a spacey eighties vibe and overlaid with distorted vocals, Dyne’s delectable, rhythmical time signatures instantly had heads nodding.

Each track was dispatched with added intensity, the similarity of sound across the set only being built up in added detail; by the third track there was a heavy undertone that began to prowl across the soundscape of notes, Dyne’s impeccable drumming reminiscent of Chris Vrenna in both it’s complexity and deliverance. Fagan, while moving in small circles, dropped vocals that growled and soared, at times an almost chant like element seeing them punctuated by Milne within his mini fortress of keyboards.
Aptly named ‘The Beast’ was a definitive highlight, the majority now well invested in this journey of sound that had engulfed them all. The Civic with its unparalleled acoustics, the perfect venue in which to listen to this act live. Upon announcing they were about to play their last track it was unsurprising that many let out an audible groan of disappointment. To counter this Fagan snarled into the mic that everybody should get up and dance before Half Hexagon finished with a finale worthy of reverence.

A brief intermission and Pavement soon filed onto stage to rapturous applause, the audience remaining politely seated for opening track ‘Grounded’. But just as the opening notes of ‘Summer Babe’ were about to ring out with that grungy undertone that so many were dying to hear live once again, the call came from the band for everyone to get up which they did without a seconds hesitation.

While The Civic was indeed the ideal venue both visually and acoustically for a band such as this, the question did hang in the air as to whether a standing venue would have been more appropriate, allowing ticket holders to let loose unabated on a Tuesday night.

The five piece which included the addition of the wonderful Rebecca Cole on backing vocals and keys, certainly presented a picture of relaxed enjoyment. Any animosity amongst the members long put to bed, the musicians instead looking like they were genuinely enjoying their time on stage and the reception they were receiving.

Cohesive, they certainly hadn’t lost any of that idiosyncratic sound that their fans have come to know and love, in fact, in a venue such as last night’s it was only amplified with outstanding clarity, the lighting simple, yet the right accompaniment for such a set.

Each track was embraced with love, more balls to the wall songs such as ‘Perfume-V’ inciting pockets of karaoke, as many relived the time and place that they had first heard it, the almost disjointed backing vocals only elevating the song. ‘Cut Your Hair’ received a huge outpouring of love, the catchy tune prompting many to chant to key lines in joyous union.

While Stephen Malkmus was a virtuoso on guitar and vocals, his distinctive figure cutting subtle shapes against the backdrop, it was Bob Nastanovich (thankfully back on stage after his unfortunate mishap in Melbourne that saw him sit out Tent Pole Music Festival) that added a comedic touch to the night and that much sought after interaction that fans crave. Handing a tambourine to the front row as he joked about it being the one instrument that everyone can and cannot play, it uplifted the track ‘Father to a Sister of Thought’.

Enthralling everyone even further the word ‘kiwis’ was gratifyingly thrown into the fabulous lyricism of ‘Harness Your Hopes’, a track that they did not play last time they were on New Zealand shores they cheekily advised.

As each track was laid down the sound became more raucous, attendees lapping up every moment of it. Seats be gone, this was now a stand and rock out event, the band continuing to deliver hit after hit, ‘Spit on a Stranger’, ‘The Hexx’ and ‘Shady Lane’ all stand outs. Any ‘self-indulgence’ that had been hinted at by some Australian reviewers was not to be seen last night, instead all that was witnessed was a group who have certainly honed their craft over the years and who knew how to lay down a show worthy of ardent adoration.

‘Type Slowly’ calmed the tempo a little, the audience cradled by the off kilter vocal stylings, the music itself inviting them on an expedition that offered up elements of Led Zeppelin and The Doors through the guitars while moments of feedback tore through the piano notes dancing along behind. A beguiling cacophony of sound.

‘Range Life’ closed out the set, an encore of course both expected and delivered; not one, not three, but an impressive five tracks to boot.

Some jaunts down musical memory lanes are certainly worth taking.

Pavement:

Half Hexagon:

Were you there at The Civic for this absolute treat of an alternative pop gig  Or have you seen Pavement perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Grounded
2. Summer Babe
3. Transport Is Arranged
4. Kennel District
5. Black Out
6. Perfume-V
7. Cut Your Hair
8. Father to a Sister of Thought
9. Harness Your Hopes
10. Unfair
11. Home
12. Here
13. Spit on a Stranger
14. Debris Slide
15. The Hexx
16. Heckler Spray
17. Feed ’em to the (Linden) Lions
18. Two States
19. Type Slowly
20. Shady Lane
21. Box Elder
22. Stop Breathin
23. Range Life
24. Blue Hawaiian [encore]
25. Stereo [encore]
26. Gold Soundz [encore]
27. Conduit for Sale! [encore]
28. Witchi Tai To [Jim Pepper cover][encore]

_{Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.}

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